2010 already has a hefty lineup of hardware releases, with Microsoft's Project Natal, Sony's PS3 Motion Controller and Nintendo's DSi XL all hitting stores. All three of those companies will be absent from the GDC keynote schedule this month in San Francisco, however, as the conference focuses on software development. Sony's controller will get its own panel, but the spotlight will be focused on game makers.

If you waited seven years to buy and original Xbox and were hoping to begin your online multiplayer career with it, you have officially waited too long. An era of online video gaming will come to an end in April as Microsoft reorganizes its Xbox Live services and discontinues support for the first-generation Xbox and its games. The reallocation of resources comes as as the company looks ahead to its Xbox 360-compatible services and makes changes that it claims are necessary for the future.

Microsoft has "Game Room" up and running on a 360 on the floor of CES, which has allowed intrepid gamers the chance to go hands-on with the product and just how closely it mimics the feel of a real arcade.

Sadly I wasn't able to make the trip this year, but thanks to some shaky cam from the guys over at Kotaku, we have a more concrete concept on how achievements and game browsing works in "Game Room."

Original Story: Microsoft's on-going efforts to make your avatar the end-all be-all of your online digital persona is continuing with their announcement of "Game Room." It's basically a virtual arcade filled with classic arcade games. You can walk your avatar up to arcade machines and start playing (for a fee). That's basically it.

The service will be available on Xbox 360 and PC, with players able to purchase "free play" of a game for anywhere between 240 and 400 Microsoft Points (or $3 to $5 in non-moon bucks). You can also choose to play just once for 40 MS Points, as an attempted throwback to the whole quarter experience.

Microsoft wanting to generate more synergy between Xbox Live and Windows Mobile-enabled devices isn't necessarily big news, but details posted in a new job opening name a few ways they want to put Xbox Live access on phones. Avatars, social media and "multi-screen experiences" will all be included in the new employee's projects, in addition to overseeing Xbox Live-linked games.

Less than a week after Microsoft released an update to their (expensive) wireless adapter, adding wireless N technology, Mad Catz is releasing their own Wireless-N Gaming Adapter for Xbox 360. Microsoft's device comes with a $99.99 MSRP, whereas Mad Catz comes in at $79.99.

The above shot was taken by a user in the Major League Gaming forums nicknamed, predictably, Tom Morello. I'm hoping that that's not his real name, as the NDA he most likely signed would prohibit the screen capture of gameplay from what appears to be "Halo: Reach," but his risk is our gain, as he managed to cap off a few shots on his cell phone of some of the weapons that'll be featured in the game:

The Internet collectively hiccuped Thursday with speculation that Microsoft might introduce a Blu-Ray drive for the Xbox 360. Based on comments made by Microsoft's CEO, those predictions have now been unequivocally shot down, thanks to a statement by Xbox Live's online voice Major Nelson, who reinforced the 360's commitment to downloadable HD content and said no plans for a Blu-Ray device were in the works.

Microsoft emails promising "cool stuff" have reportedly been distributed to select Xbox Live users as part of a new mystery rewards program. Though the emails don't explicitly say what users will receive for signing up by the October 21st deadline, they do brandish large headlines implying exclusivity and shiny things.

The number of unauthorized Xbox 360 memory devices that are compatible with Microsoft's console is about to get crunched. A new system update coming to the system will cripple any plugged in hardware that Microsoft hasn't approved, and save files could suffer if they happen to get caught in the crossfire.